Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrbdNmOB6G
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofZNRsYotq
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHphLqT1UWC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bpLJaATXS
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqVv5Aezft
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyIEds7tju
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFNXIIWqax
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVysP2dE1L1
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe8kTN3usF
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoI4UljJOG
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNrndQk3VW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bQBmeChFu
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMycL2Ja9HE
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1kuRxZjpg
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm5U2QT964
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzbUX9xDNT
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWEj3DfnGO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9wD6H9Srf
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPp3s1Cske
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCgFU8CsUg
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT6hsVCEfX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHBpvoA5bW
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsvoYGcK4B
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGgo82qJLF
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfs65kzZNQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ98xLt3e1v
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAd5JNPpq4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIYCyDILar
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeURGhDo6R
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLLAdYS7ug
[Transition]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCa06EM65J
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSweLuZRUyT
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ynYtmGkn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQvqiAGv9I
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleEoYLgAJv
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1FTZvf5Q9
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwNK4A6a3K
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuWuSf2Wuk
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDsW6MMgQP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9T49nHBsI
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBwk2EzIFM
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Vnl7eEWt
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlljvxLiU2G
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyHLix61Nf
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZHw6lW2SM
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmU9l17z3
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n2ep434DY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCme4Gizyr2
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAriuzzW8Ja
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1arFW33Pm9
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm0SfKvi4p
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJQGA5yQuP
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYA1KEQ3cO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQKrvAWSl0
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDua8YEbpvN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvAFmOhf6m
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sgQCAp7T6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR8Js8omCo
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2hrTPdtMS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P21VoveoK
[Transition]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExufYDSzLH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXCEuimSm3
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbulFdFklQA
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR0wesggK6
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ1kOQJJWz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGfOvBzBTQ
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjenUewav4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW0Kt6KQEN
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnsIwL1WsT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6xMNul5t0
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkIM7IRlTo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2HtkauHwg
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5qJleWXoI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqChOxu9ie
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDCVbC76Au
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR95AVsyvX
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeaEqpLFkH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiKGPQ3yFc
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNBl9UGDKW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fuHnM5Jka
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OB5PobQSW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOXclVJscc
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxT8oeTn0e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhNkGIYqmv
[Transition]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9pKktPNyS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwWbYj7PeS
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblg2KC0PCV
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GkpZFPitQ
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu4wEWTXhX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RWwLlGjFG
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkitLNjkCG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh1NDFXTtB
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCORsBRsyT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjTKdAOrcZ
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQYDA4XSlQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyH82TA2zL
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZD8h0qqm9
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4ZhgH3I3e
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYZkaGQn4O
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR9Ge4xXkx
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIJFJeGn8X
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXlVmOaC7R
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA7oCAxeRx
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLSTX2cj9P
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2LyIw68Zt
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSEuQUEEhJ
Shin-woo: Need some help?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOokVHaY6oe
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaK6q1q1oY
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡameJrtm6gG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8qxGKkgZz
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3P2naPcBa
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHwPufx0vE
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gJxAWbbzX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbLyLLkjzI
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5mgzEtPLv
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHpp9D7acx
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLsSuY2ODw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCzK969Kl3
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrAfDvwGmR
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZRCqSdRsA
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5yTF0BwP7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tcreTfVYa
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPns6Bpnux
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvqLW1rdjA
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZB5PqW2tw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsh7Yd2cxW
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBL9esyyiu
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPAuZNgdUi
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD7ZI1cuPz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqLGqS8rTM
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPwtE4jdqX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvbR7FiBuH
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFU6brimHs
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4WW5wxB3t
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGvHrJGQFY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfjiFFG4A4
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkFcJPOdHV
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1qxLtRyuP
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6mejIO8I0
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6iaQ3wJ6h
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhXgzMBJA8
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIh3Ual4M0
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZvOB06yaA
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKPsIDRp4C
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV1M7Af4RU
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPIbTYZaTJ
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J7b57mEIg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hDK1RNzQL
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtklucTHQg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveTNYrDBXu
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaWShP6k3e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGVOt8CE1D
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUwJqbUjSg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SSW8t9RwZ
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zhU7Dc72m
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2KrUxTYEC
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdXYv0LJiU
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi5QJhKSrf
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoogK272XMP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMjCHkQFd1
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBcCMKzsXY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0SasQ2gcX
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVQGVyFUg3
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIF2b4SV3t
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpckUznW9l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvO4HfHzsX
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCnC3pDcwD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11AOe85ORJ
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw91fh9SRoS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2GsXX42gr
[Transition]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdheXocu2p
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaRzwJNpCO
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2ocgxbQvQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADCQS3G8Nb
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPaE8lsHsE
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdGknOMlDP
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fa4M9cVa0
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx03HNeWEF
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe1Hys8u6b
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3USjsx7K3
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18LgtOlZo4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz438KPHOOT
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewP342OP4X
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIyRKs0QHj
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnxJ6Vljo1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAKe8iP2Yl
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXmhtEFjtG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5uqao8WVL
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59sB1sv5GQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8YXyFZosu
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XHx8xPxu7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiIBFJEhLN
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWdLHrAw2r
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBXbRSCCHZ
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyFLFgIQUz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8NrZ5nZ3D
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cWHbDwUvT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirqINi1Vkp
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0gZY60Le6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzgSD6zZIN
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3BiH0M3Fo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02KIcHuPlr
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPsZdx95Yl
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8wX3pq52e
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsPn7FmPEk
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBDYWEJiwG
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y49dg9gQK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE9hdYK9C1
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50gxdk9AdS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZblq9D6IOn
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75XMudcW5X
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ykDtBiHm1
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZqN0e7W0T
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ce3eqRdbw
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumJvcepxtG
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuZcf09WWX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c7e3Ohhk8
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu321CE0fS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49vuPzm3Jo
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7M4w5jLjh
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjsjinlLs
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8yNN7fTdo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyFVGqEQQZ
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67GMxovzBd
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoPBxVITN9
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCHzX8dWw5
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRibiuRpVq
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SypOCcDL9
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGa4ShHlbk
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmxxnCrU1e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hHR7Pqn1V
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2EsuTMquT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFhWUd4NLw
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiJzwZqgbp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKSyOhzm7U
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatY7JhbCsS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybLp6bO3Z1
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44nARP5EAS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJwhzqRyh1
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDch1rK8AAX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgj2v93D7r
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrp2g4ekaT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTkRBuL8zV
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQ6yhavkS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGxeAOSQJi
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYdh8rs2Sc
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcAHRUEek3
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQIVeTsk8k
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1FLGclS4Q
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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